The Beardstown man charged with second-degree murder plead not guilty this week less than a month after a carnival worker was stabbed and found dead a day later.

During a preliminary court appearance Wednesday afternoon, Jared Staake, 21, entered a not guilty plea to allegations that he caused the death of Michael Box after stabbing him during a July 2 altercation on the Schuyler County fairgrounds. Box, 33, of Dyersburg, Tenn., was found dead in his fairground sleeping quarters early on July 4.

According to Schuyler County Coroner Dennis Lane, Box was stabbed on his left side and "absolutely" died of acute septic poisoning. Lane said the autopsy revealed Box's stomach contents were found in his abdomen.

Box was initially taken to Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville following the July 2 altercation, but left without receiving treatment.

Staake was arrested July 5 and charged with second-degree murder, a Class 1 felony punishable by four to 20 years in prison.

During a July 8 court appearance, Staake requested a court-appointed attorney, but on Wednesday he appeared with Mark Wykoff and Brendan Harris, of Wykoff Law Office in Springfield, and Schuyler County Circuit Judge Alesia McMillen removed the court-appointed attorney from the case.

Staake remains in Schuyler County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail. He will next appear in court at 11 a.m. on Sept. 11 for a status hearing.